Steven Saylor - Raiders of the Nile

Where had I recently heard the phrase “cuckoo’s child”? It had been in the mime show, in reference to a fictitious bastard brother of the king, but that seemed to have no relevance at the moment. “Who is this Cuckoo’s Child you speak of? Why do they call him that, and what’s his real name? And how did he become the head of such a gang?”

“Ah, those are very good questions, Gordianus, to which King Ptolemy and his agents would very much like the answers. As far as I know, no one outside the gang knows the real name of the Cuckoo’s Child. These bandits take an oath, upon pain of death, never to reveal the true name of their leader, or that of any other member.” He smiled. “Perhaps you can find the answers to your questions from the Cuckoo’s Child himself, when you track him down and ask for the return of your slave.”

“Are you making fun of me, Tafhapy?”

His smile faded. “No, I am not. Though I may appear aloof to your misery, Gordianus, I, too, know the power of the heart’s desire, even over the strongest of men.” He glanced at Axiothea. “True, it was Axiothea who insisted that I bring you here, from a desire to help her new friends, you and this girl Bethesda. But I, too, wish you the blessings of Fortuna, if that Roman goddess will deign to influence the outcome of such a peculiar enterprise-the retrieval of a slave kidnapped by mistake.”

I shook my head. “The Delta is enormous, or so I’ve been told.”

“It is indeed,” said Tafhapy.

“Is it not a settled region, with villages and farms and roads?”

“Many areas are settled, yes. And there are roads that cross the Delta, with ferries to carry travelers and their camels across the many waterways, from one stretch of road to the next. But many parts of the Delta are wild and uncharted, and have been so since the time of the pharaohs. As it nears the sea, the Nile splits into countless channels, creating countless islands, large and small. Maps of the Delta are meaningless, because overnight a storm or a flood can change water to land, or land to water. There are marshes that no horse or camel can pass, tracts of quicksand that have swallowed whole armies without a trace, swamps and lagoons thick with man-eating crocodiles. Vast expanses are totally flat, covered with thick, scrubby vegetation, and devoid of landmarks, so that even the most experienced guides become hopelessly lost. These inhospitable regions of the Delta have long been a haven for all sorts of miscreants and misfits-criminal gangs, escaped slaves, deserters from the army and ex-soldiers fallen on hard times, outcast courtiers and even exiled members of the royal family. The most desperate men in all Egypt live in the Delta. They do as they please with impunity, beyond the reach of any law.”

“Surely no man in his right mind would venture into such a place,” I said.

“Surely not,” agreed Tafhapy.

I thought about this. Could I be described as a man in his right mind? Not since Bethesda’s disappearance. “If some fool were to go there, how would he find this gang of the Cuckoo’s Child?”

“The easternmost branch of the Nile is called the Pelusian. The westernmost, nearest to Alexandria, is called the Canopic. Between them, along with countless smaller waterways, are the five other major branches of the Delta. My informants believe they know on which of these branches, and approximately how close to the sea, the Cuckoo’s Child has established his latest stronghold-the Cuckoo’s Nest, it’s called. Should some fool decide to make the journey, I can provide more detailed directions.”

I swallowed hard. “But … what if Bethesda is being held not in the Delta, but here in Alexandria? For all we know, she may be only a stone’s throw from this house.”

“Unlikely,” said Tafhapy. “That’s not how these kidnappers operate. They will have taken her to the place where they feel most secure and where she will have the least chance of escape: the Cuckoo’s Nest.”

I considered everything he had told me. “If I should try to find this place, I’ll need to stall for time. These kidnappers must be made to think there’s still a chance they’ll receive a ransom. If you could lead them on, Tafhapy … if you could reply to their latest message, and to any others that may come … make them believe you’re willing to pay-”

“No, Gordianus. I thought I made myself clear: there will be no communication whatsoever between me and these brigands. Even so, I don’t think they’ll dispose of this girl too quickly. In kidnappings of this sort, it’s quite common for negotiations to drag on for months. The kidnappers will be patient. But from me, they will receive no response. This concerns your property. I’ve turned the matter over to you. I leave it entirely in your hands.”

“But I can’t take on a gang of brigands single-handed!”

“Hire bodyguards.”

“With what? I have no money.”

“Then get some money, Gordianus!” Tafhapy grunted, growing impatient. “Or simply get yourself a new slave girl.”

“But don’t you want to take revenge on these villains yourself, Tafhapy? Don’t you want to punish them for showing disrespect to you? Help me get the better of them. Lend me some of your bodyguards. Let me take a couple of those ebony giants sitting in your courtyard. You’d hardly miss them-”

“Alas, Gordianus, I have no bodyguards to spare. I shall need all the protection I can get, soon enough.”

“What do you mean?”

“Foreigner you may be, and too young to have much sense, but surely even you have some idea of what lies ahead. Do you not realize that Egypt is on the verge of civil war? The Delta has descended into utter lawlessness, a full-scale revolt has broken out upriver in Thebes, and the king may lose his hold on the army any day now. Anything may happen. Anything! I’m a man of property, Gordianus, facing an uncertain future. I would flee, but no port anywhere offers safe haven; the war between Mithridates and the Romans has seen to that. Whatever may befall Alexandria, here I shall stay. My home is my fortress, my bodyguards are my soldiers-and I have none to spare. And I have no money to spare, either, not even so much as a copper coin to give you. You’re on your own.”

I took this in, and felt thoroughly downhearted.

“But consider your advantages, young Roman,” said Tafhapy. “Quick wits, quick reflexes, a strong body, and the fearlessness of youth, born though it may be from ignorance and inexperience. I wish you well, Gordianus.”

Axiothea placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a consoling look, then rose from her chair, drew close to Tafhapy, and whispered in his ear.

He considered what she had to say, then nodded. He called to Djet. The boy came running.

“I can’t spare any bodyguards, Gordianus, but I can grant you the loan of this boy.”

“What! He’s just a child.” And a rude one at that, I thought. “He’d only be a burden to me. A mouth to feed.”

“I myself have found Djet to be reasonably intelligent, mostly reliable, and adequately loyal. You may find him more useful than you think. If not, and he proves to be an encumbrance, feel free to feed him to the crocodiles-as long as you buy a replacement for me. This is my offer: for as long as it takes to track down your missing slave and bring her back to Alexandria, I grant you the use of this slave, free of charge. Take it or leave it.”

I shook my head. “It wouldn’t be fair to the boy. There’s certain to be danger-great danger. To take him from the safety of this house, on a trip into the wilds of the Delta, where bandits and raiders hold sway-”

“The Delta!” cried Djet, with a glimmer in his eyes. “I’ve always heard of it. A wild place, full of monsters and outlaws!”